i.b.s.® with new German Gov approval!

Twelve years after the implementation of the revised German certification procedure for armed maritime security, i.b.s.® remains the only commercial security company worldwide to have been continuously certified by the German Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA) since 2013 for the provision of armed maritime security services on vessels flying the German flag.

Although shipping companies operating vessels under the German flag may currently show limited interest in these services, demand is expected to rise in the future, particularly in the event of a resurgence of Somali piracy. In such a scenario, there will inevitably be a shortage of qualified armed personnel. As a result, our company will be able to deploy armed security teams exclusively for those shipping companies with whom we have established framework agreements and completed all necessary preparatory measures to ensure the seamless and professional execution of such services.

When the need for these services arises, a range of complex administrative and logistical procedures must be coordinated with security authorities both in Germany and in the respective embarkation and disembarkation countries. These processes typically require a lead time of 7 to 10 working days following the acceptance of an order by i.b.s.®. Consequently, ad hoc requests with only a few days' notice cannot be accommodated in a professional manner and will, if necessary, be declined.